Captivating Beauty 124

Chapter 124: Side Story 12

Chen Shu vs. Xu Jinnan (original), an alternate universe “what if” scenario (This is NOT the current Xu Jinnan, so don’t confuse them. This is about two different people.)

Four-year-old Xu Jinnan found Chen Shu by the slide.

Chen Shu’s back was to her, her dark hair shimmering in the sunlight, like spun gold.

If she wore a tiara, she would look just like a princess, Xu Jinnan thought, clutching the doll she had brought.

“She’s scary. She has blood on her hands. Like a ghost. I don’t want to talk to her anymore.”

“Xu Jinnan is… creepy…”

Xu Jinnan froze, her fingers tightening around the doll. It was Chen Shu’s voice.

Her small hand trembled, her heart aching with a mixture of disbelief, sadness, and a flicker of anger.

Her mother’s words echoed in her mind: Nannan, anyone in this world can betray me, but not you.

And now, she thought, Anyone can betray me, but not Xiao Shu.

She threw the doll to the ground and turned to leave, her face a mask of cold indifference. Just as she turned, she heard a familiar voice.

“Don’t say that about her! She’s not scary! She’s nice!”

She stopped and turned back, seeing Chen Shu standing up, her eyes widening in surprise. It wasn’t Chen Shu who had spoken.

It was as if a wilted flower had suddenly bloomed, a ray of sunshine piercing through the darkness, bringing warmth and hope.

She saw Chen Shu turn around, and their eyes met through the gap in the slide.

Xu Jinnan stood there, watching her, her heart pounding, still hesitant, afraid Chen Shu would be disgusted by her scars.

She didn’t move, simply calling out, her voice soft, “Xiao Shu.”

Chen Shu, hearing her voice, ran towards her, a smile lighting up her face. “Xu Jinnan, you’re back!”

Xu Jinnan’s lips curved into a small smile, her heart warming at the sight of Chen Shu’s smile.

“Are you feeling better now?” Chen Shu asked. “Are you still hurting?”

Xu Jinnan shook her head. “I’m fine now,” she replied.

“I’m sorry,” Chen Shu said, taking a step closer, her white dress brushing against Xu Jinnan’s.

“I was a little scared when I saw the blood on your hand…” she continued, her voice soft.

Xu Jinnan’s eyes flickered, her hand unconsciously gripping the hem of her dress. “Mm-hmm,” she murmured.

Chen Shu, seeing her downcast expression, quickly added, “But I’m not scared anymore! I’m sorry. We’re friends. I shouldn’t have been afraid.”

“Are we… friends?” Xu Jinnan asked hesitantly.

“Of course! We’re best friends!” Chen Shu exclaimed, taking Xu Jinnan’s hand in hers. “I’m sorry I ignored you the other day. I won’t do it again. Xu Jinnan, will you forgive me?”

Xu Jinnan’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry too,” she whispered.

“What are you sorry for?” Chen Shu asked, puzzled.

Xu Jinnan, her grip tightening on Chen Shu’s hand, shook her head. “I just… I’m sorry,” she repeated.

Chen Shu smiled, her eyes sparkling. “Okay, then we’re friends again! Xu Jinnan, let’s be best friends forever!”

Xu Jinnan looked down at their joined hands. “Forever,” she whispered.

Years later, after graduating from university, Chen Shu, after a series of interviews, landed a job at a mid-sized company, a typical entry-level position.

Her first day hadn’t been easy, the challenges of navigating the corporate world, the office politics, the subtle hierarchies, as daunting as the work itself.

She had been nervous, her first assignment – preparing a financial report – a source of anxiety, and she had spent the entire day meticulously checking and rechecking the data, finally printing it out just before leaving, ready to submit it to her manager the next morning.

It was past 9 p.m. when she left the office.

As she stepped outside, she saw a familiar white Bentley parked by the curb.

She smiled and got into the back seat. “What are you doing here? I told you I would take a taxi,” she said to Xu Jinnan.

Xu Jinnan handed her a cup of milk tea. “Don’t drink too much. You need to eat dinner,” she said, then, replying to Chen Shu’s earlier question, added, “Why can’t I be here?”

They had been inseparable since kindergarten, their friendship enduring even after Xu Jinnan skipped several grades in middle school.

And even after taking over the Xu Corporation, despite her demanding schedule, Xu Jinnan always made time for Chen Shu, often taking her out for dinner.

Chen Shu took a sip of the milk tea, sighing contentedly. “This is nice.”

“I still don’t understand what you see in her,” Xu Jinnan said, telling the driver to start the car. “With your family’s wealth, you don’t need to work.”

Chen Shu chuckled. “Don’t be jealous, CEO Xu. I’ve heard it all before. Let’s just eat. I’m starving!” She was usually quiet and reserved around others, but with Xu Jinnan, she could be herself, her playful, childish side emerging.

Her friends and family often teased her about it.

And Xu Jinnan would simply say, “I spoiled her.”

Chen Shu’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she smiled, her heart filled with a quiet joy, a deep sense of gratitude for Xu Jinnan, who had endured so much for her, for their relationship.

After the Xu family’s downfall two years ago, they had finally been able to be together, openly and without fear.

They had grown up together, and through thick and thin, Xu Jinnan had always been there for her, protecting her, supporting her, her love a constant, unwavering presence.

She often thought she must have been incredibly lucky in a past life to deserve such devotion.

“Are you tired?”

Xu Jinnan’s question interrupted her thoughts.

“Exhausted,” Chen Shu replied. “I’ve never worked this hard, not even in college.”

Xu Jinnan frowned. “Then quit.”

“No, I want to keep working,” Chen Shu said firmly. “It’s… challenging, but also rewarding. I want to start from the bottom and work my way up. I want to see what I’m capable of.”

The driver, hearing this, bit his lip, thinking, Starting from the bottom with your family’s connections… that’s not exactly a level playing field.

Xu Jinnan didn’t say anything, letting her be.

The next morning, shortly after Chen Shu arrived at the office, she heard a loud thud.

A folder had been slammed onto her desk.

Startled, she looked up to see her manager’s scowling face.

“Chen Shu, what is this? It’s incomplete!” she snapped.

Chen Shu picked up the report. “I’m sorry, Manager. Can you tell me what’s missing? I checked it several times…”

“Can’t you see for yourself? This isn’t school. There are no teachers here to hold your hand! And so what if you checked it several times? Are you saying I’m wrong now?!”

“That’s not what I meant…” Chen Shu stammered.

At a nearby desk, two employees were whispering.

“Here we go again. Just because she saw the vice president talking to Chen Shu when she arrived, she thinks she’s some kind of privileged princess, using her connections.”

“And that girl last month, the one with the designer bags? The manager kept making snide remarks about her, and she quit at the end of the month. Some people just can’t stand seeing others succeed—”

She stopped mid-sentence, gasping as she saw the vice president and a few others approaching.

Among them was a woman in a black dress, her almond-shaped eyes sharp and her demeanor cold, her aura of authority far exceeding the vice president’s.

Xu Jinnan had heard the manager’s harsh voice as she entered the office.

“You young girls need to learn some respect. This isn’t school, or your parents’ house. No one’s going to coddle you here!” the manager said, slamming her hand on the desk. “Do you hear me? Redo this report! And if you can’t do it properly, you’re fired!”

Xu Jinnan stopped, her arrival having also startled the other employees, who quickly turned to look, their faces a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

“That’s enough! It’s just a report. There’s no need to shout,” the vice president said, hurrying over, his voice placating, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Their company had been trying to secure a partnership with the Xu Corporation, and Xu Jinnan’s unexpected visit, her stated intention to “observe” their operations, had made him nervous.

While reprimanding a new employee wasn’t unusual, it still created a bad impression.

The manager and Chen Shu turned around, their faces a mixture of surprise and confusion.

“I apologize, Vice President. I’ll be more discreet in the future. She’s new; she doesn’t understand the rules yet,” the manager said, her voice softening as she recognized Xu Jinnan, her tone now respectful, almost fawning. “Please excuse our… lack of professionalism.”

Chen Shu, meeting Xu Jinnan’s gaze, her eyes narrowed slightly, cringed inwardly.

Why is she here? she thought, her face burning with embarrassment. Being scolded in front of Xu Jinnan on her second day of work was mortifying.

“Chen Shu, what are you waiting for? Get back to work!” the manager snapped.

Chen Shu sighed inwardly, knowing her job was on the line. Xu Jinnan’s expression was a clear sign of her displeasure.

She took off her ID badge and placed it on the desk.

Just as she thought, Xu Jinnan walked over to her, her gaze cold and dismissive as she glanced at the manager, who shivered involuntarily under her stare.

“Let’s go,” Xu Jinnan said to Chen Shu.

“Okay,” Chen Shu replied, letting Xu Jinnan take her hand.

The other employees watched in stunned silence, and the vice president, hurrying over, asked, “Mr. Xu, is this…?”

“My fiancée,” Xu Jinnan replied coldly, then, without another word, led Chen Shu out of the office.

The vice president, his face pale, was about to follow them when Xu Jinnan’s sharp glance stopped him in his tracks.

“Vice President, who was that?” one of the employees asked, her voice barely a whisper.

The vice president rubbed his temples, his voice tight with frustration. “Someone… we can’t afford to offend,” he muttered, then glared at the manager, whose face had also turned pale.

As they went downstairs, Chen Shu, tugging playfully at Xu Jinnan’s hand, said, “I’m not even upset about losing my job. Why are you so angry?”

“I don’t like it,” Xu Jinnan replied simply.

She stopped. “Are you… actually upset?” she asked, her voice softening slightly.

Chen Shu looked at her for a moment, then smiled. “Not really. That manager had it out for me. I wouldn’t have lasted anyway. I’m probably not suited for this kind of work. It’s your fault for spoiling me! I can’t even handle a little criticism now,” she said, her voice playful.

Xu Jinnan’s earlier anger dissipated slightly, seeing Chen Shu’s smile. “Want to go shopping?” she asked.

“Are you free this afternoon?”

“I am.”

After opening the car door for Chen Shu, Xu Jinnan made a phone call, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke, her voice cold and sharp.

“I don’t want to see her again,” she said, then hung up.

They drove towards the city center, the streets lined with colorful flowers, a vibrant display against the backdrop of the clear spring sky.

Xu Jinnan, her gaze fixed on the road ahead, said, “Xiao Shu, let’s get married soon.”

“Okay,” Chen Shu replied without hesitation, then added, “I saw a beautiful wedding dress the other day. I’ll show you. And I’ve already chosen one for you too. And I don’t think we should invite too many people…”

Xu Jinnan listened to her chatter, a soft smile playing on her lips, the warm sunlight streaming through the car windows, illuminating their faces.

The car drove on, the road ahead bright and clear, lined with blooming flowers, like a path to a brighter future.